Arsenal transfer news: Thomas Vermaelen has no idea where he will be playing next season despite Manchester United interest

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen admits he does not know if he will still be at the club next season.

Standard Sport revealed last month that Manchester United are confident they will complete a £10million deal for the defender and the Belgium international is refusing to commit himself to the north London club.

Vermaelen has one year left on his contract and is looking for more first-team football having made just 10 starts last term.

Significantly, Vermaelen said: “I really do not know where I will play, Arsenal or elsewhere next season. All my attention went to the World Cup. I will see when I talk with Arsenal.”

New United coach Louis van Gaal is looking to strengthen his defence and sees Vermaelen, who he worked with during his time at Ajax, as the perfect replacement for the departed Rio Ferdinand.

He is on £70,000 a week at Arsenal but United are willing to pay him £100,000 a week.

Vermaelen’s expected departure will be eased by the club’s moves to strengthen key areas of the squad.

Arsenal are favourites to buy striker Alexis Sanchez in a £30m deal from Barcelona and are also on the verge of signing right-back Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle for £12m. A £23.8m move for Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira is unlikely to succeed with the Spanish club keen to keep him.

The Gunners will now turn their attention back to Bayer Leverkusen holding midfielder Lars Bender, who they tried to buy for £19m last year.